Older Children Often Overlooked For Adoption

By Amanda Malkowski&nbsp|&nbsp

Posted: Tue 10:05 AM, Nov 12, 2013&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Tue 10:23 AM, Nov 12, 2013

Two months ago, a 15-year-old boy in Florida walked into a church and stood before hundreds, asking for a family. Davion Henry's plea for a home sparked national attention, with thousands of people inquiring about adopting him. But there are kids just like him here in Michigan who too are searching for forever families. We met one of those kids. His name is Tre'vone, and he's fifteen years old. He's one of around four thousand kids in Michigan hoping to find a forever family. Tre'vone has been waiting for a family for long time because most people want to adopt younger children, but he wants people to know older kids deserve a great homes too.

"I can be nice, loving, kind hopeful, peaceful," said Tre'vone.

That's how 15-year old Tre'vone describes himself.

"At first when you see him you think he's probably shy, but once you get around him, he will warm up to you, and he has that awesome smile that can bring light into your life," said Whitney Banks, St. Vincent Catholic Charities Adoption Recruiter

So, I hit the lanes with Tre'vone to help him warm up. And after just a few shots at the pins, he started cracking that smile, especially when I'd take a bad shot.

Tre'vone is one of around four thousand kids in Michigan who wants to take a shot at a new life, with a new family to cheer him on. But as he and his adoption worker Whitney told me, it's hard to convince families to adopt a teenager, rather than a small child.

"A lot of parents feel that if I adopt a teenager, that means I cannot mold them into what I want them to be," said Banks.

But like most teens waiting for a forever family, Tre'vone told me he doesn't want to be molded. He wants to be supported by a family with a few simple qualities.

"If they have a good personality and like to be funny and hopefully be kind," said Tre'vone.

He wants a family whose kindness will have a positive impact on his life-one that will cheer him on at his football games, help him study his favorite subjects, math and science, and prepare him for for college, so he become a police officer when he grows up. He wants a family who will see more than his age.

"We have to remember even though you are 16, 17 or 18 you are still a child. And no child should be able to function without having that support system, and that support system should consist of a core value that is a family," said Banks.

But many kids never find that family. Nearly 900 youth age out of the foster care system in Michigan every year. Tre'vone doesn't want to be one of them. He wants people to know he's still a kid-a kid looking for a great home.

The US Department of Health and Human Services says there are nearly 400-thousand children across the country in foster care. If you're interested in adopting Tre'vone or any teenager from Michigan, you can go to Saint Vincent Catholic Charities.

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